Method of making cans.



G. A. LEiGHTON METHOD OF MAKING CANS. 'APPLICAIION FILED APR. 3. 1916.

Patented Feb. 26, 191 s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LEIGHTON, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN CA1? UUMEANY, .03? NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF MAKING CANS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

Application filed April 3, 1916.. Serial No. 88,473.

1 b all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, G-Eonor. A. LEIGHTON,

a citizen of the United States, residing in a South Boston in the county of Suffolk and 5 State of ltlassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Making Cans, of which the following is a.

specification.

This invention in general to hernietioally sealed containers having a tenr-oii part, as for: example, sardine cans and the like.v and as the invention is hereinafter described in connection with sardine can, it will he manifest that it has a much wider application and can be used effectively and efficiently in containers for numerous other materials.

A 1' n cipal object of this invention is the provision of :1. access of making a can for sardines and the like which may be eifec tirely and economically constructed with a double scam at the top, obviating thereby the necessity of closing the filled can with a soldered. seam which must be later torn away to. provide access.

further object of the invention is the provision of a process resulting in the provision of a can having a soldered tear-ofi bottom-i and a double seamed top wherein the tcar-ofi bottom is cut from the previously drawn can body.

lhcr o, ects and advantages of the in. vcntion will he argument as it is better on derstood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the steps in the making of a can in accordance with my invention.

On the dra 40 Figure 1 is a top plan View of a container I body before the bottom of the same has been cut away in accordance with my in- VBiZllIOfi;

is a. section through the same; u 13 top plan view after the bottom ""it away;

.zion through the same;

a 1i r view showing the ed es the cox-away bottom bent inwardly l is. similar view showing the edges hoot in completely to provide a flange upon which the out-cut bottom may be seated and soldered. said wction being taken on the line two of Fig. '3;

Fig. 7 is a bottom Plan view showing the bottom placed upon the intm'ned edges;

Fig. 8 is a central section through the some;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the can and showingthe key in place.

In accordance with In invention a sardine can body having side and end Walls 21 and 22 and bottom wall 23 is drawn in the usual manner, an outwardly extendin flange 24., later to be formed in'a double scam, being provided. The bottom wall is depressed through its central part at 25, the edge of said depression being spaced inwardly an appreciable distance from the ad-- 'jacent side and end walls except at one corner at 26, where it is spaced in a farther distance. Thereafter the bottom wall is cut away as indicated in Fig. 4 close to the side and end walls to provides. cut-out bottom part 2-7 and an open body 28. The b y 28 is bent inwardly first, as indicated in Fig. 5 at 29,- and then as indicated in Fig. 6 at 31, to provide finally a flat inwardly extending flange about the opening formed in removing the bottom. The provision of this flange materially reduces the size of opening so that the bottom may be laid in place upon these flanges, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 8. One corner of the vertical wall of the body is pressed inwardly at 33 and 1 the flange 31 extends inwardly almost to the depression 25, the parts being finally so constructed that the depression 25 fits in the space formed within the flange 31. The point indicated at 26 in Fig. 1 of the 'bottom, rests within the flange 31 at the depression 33, the corner of the bottom at this point forming a tongue 34 adapted for engagement by a key 35. as will be later described. The parts so formed are soldered together to form a frangible seal, the solder 36 being" laid upon the flange 31 and the bottom held thereupon to secure it in place.

The top 37 is seamed at 38 on the flange 24 at the top, this flange being narrow so that the seam extends up instead of out at the side, the top having a. raised hook flange 39 for engaging the flange 24.

It will be manifest that this method or process for forming. can through the cutting away of a part of the body and the subsequent securing together of the edges formed in this cutting with a frangible seal, gives a hermetically sealed closed container which may be opened by breaking away the solder. It permits the body to be constructed by the can maker and furnished to the packer who need only fill the cans and then double scam the top in place, being thereby relieved of theuse of any solder in closing,

of its atten stood from the foregolng description, and

particularly if the contents be cooked while the can is open.

It is thou ht that the invention and many ent dvantages will be under it will apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the. form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1. The herein described method of making cans, the same consisting in drawing a blank of sheet metal to form the bottom and side 5 walls of the can; cutting out said bottom from the side walls; bending in the walls'of the body to reduce the cut-out space and form a sealing flange, a portion of the said wall and of the said sealing flange being bent farther inward than the remainder of said bent in portion, placing the cut-out bottom upon the sealing flange with a portion of the bottom projecting beyond the portion of the wall farthest bent in, to form a tongue for ripping said bottom from the filled and closed can; and soldering the said bottom to the said sealing flange of the body.

2. The herein described method of making cans, the same consisting in drawing a blank of sheet. metal to 'form. the bottom and side walls of the can and embossing the bottom to form a panel which ma be inset within the sealing flange'of the ody, saidqpanel being further spaced. lIlWaId'fIjOXD the side walls at one corner; cutting'out said bc'rttoni from the side Walls; bendingin the walls oi? the body to reduce the cut-out space and form a sealing flange, one cornerof the side Walls and the corresponding portion of said sealing flange being bent farthcriinward than the remalnder of said, bent in. portion,

GEORGE A. LEIGHTON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH SMITH, L. Pun'rnm, 

